Fishing aid

ABSTRACT

A device to be used by fishermen to produce a variable selection of jigging motions in a fishline. Device has a simple motor, preferably battery operated, driving ratchet teeth which in turn activate and cause intermittent or regular controlled motions of a rod member to which the line is instantly removably affixed.

gnited States Patent Howard A. Bristol l I I3 Blouin Drive. Dolton. [IL60419 2] Inventor ..'ll Appl No 833.432 U2! Filed June It), 1969 1*1Patented Aug. 24. I971 t 4 I FISHING AID 3 Chims,6 Drawing Figs.

1S2] U.S.Cl.. r. t r. 43/192 H) lnt.Cl. t H A0lk87/00 50] FieldolSt-arch 43/192, 261

Primary Examlnerwamer Hr Camp Attorney-Albert Siege] ABSTRACT: A deviceto be used by fishermen to produce a variable selection ofjiggingmotions in a fishliner Device has a simple motor, preferably batteryoperated. driving ratchet teeth which in turn activate and causeintermittent or regular controlled motions of a rod member to which theline is instantly removably affixed.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIfi PATENTEUAUGZMQH 3 500 37 l/V VE/VTOR HOWARD A.BRISTOL FISHING AID BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relatesto a fishing aid for imparting controllable jigging motions to afishline. By using my device I provide animation to a fishing lure andcan so control this device for either constant or intermittent jiggingmotion.

Accordingly a principal object of my invention is to provide a novelfishing aid.

This and other objects, features and advantages of my invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in this particular art from thefollowing detailed disclosures thereof and the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. I is a side view of my device with the motor casing in section;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view with the casing omitted;

FIG. 3 illustrates the means of attaching a fishline to the rod memberhereof;

FIG. 4 illustrates the attachment and pivot of the rod member as hereinprovided;

FIG. 5 illustrates the electrical circuit of an embodiment hereof andFIG. 6 illustrates a ratchet member in use herewith.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referenceshould next be had to the drawings which are made part hereof:

The numeral 11 denotes a standard fishing rod having a line 12 whichline is inserted within the coils of the spring 13 located at thedetached end of the rod member 14. The line is detachably insertedbetween two coil members as illustrated in FIG. 3.

A small motor 15, preferably battery operated, is positioned within ahousing member I6, and the rod member I4 exits through a slot I7 in thehousing. The motor has a drive shaft III to which are firmly affixed tworatchet members 19 and 20. Upon activation of the motor and rotation ofthe drive shaft such ratchet members are caused to rotate.

The rod member I4 is rotatably affixed to the motor housing by apartially threaded member 21. The threaded end 22 of such member isbolted onto the lip 23 on the motor housing as is illustrated in FIG. 2.Member I4 is free to be moved laterally on the unthreaded portion 23 ofsuch member 2] as is illustrated in FIG. 4. By this means I am able toselect the particular ratchet, whether continuous or intermittent tocoact with the rod member 14. On the underside of the rod member 14, Le,when the rod in the position shown in FIG. I is a ratchet finger. Suchfinger engages either ratchet members I9 or 20. When the device is notin use the member 14 may be rotated about pivot point 25 for storage asshown in shadow in FIG. 1.

In the embodiments previously described the motor 15 is driven at aconstant speed and variations in jigging frequency are provided by thenumber of teeth on the ratchet members 19 and 20. As is illustrated inFIG. 5, in a modification hereof it is possible to also vary motorspeed. In such Figure, I provide a switch 26, battery 27 and a variablepotentiometer 28 all connected by leads to motor I5. Motor speed andtherefore frequency are thus controlled by the potentiometer 28.

It will be understood that various modifications and variations may beeffected without departing from the spirit or scope of the novelconcepts of my invention.

I claim:

1. An apparatus, adapted to jiggle the line of a fishing pole comprisinga. a housing;

b. motor means mounted within said housing;

c. a ratchet wheel:

i. associated with said motor means and rotatable about a substantiallyhorizontal axis by said motor means; and

u. comprlsing a plurallty of ratchet members secured to each other in aback-to-back relation with each ratchet member differently configured toimpart a different jiggling motion to said rod member and thus saidfishing line;

d. a rod member having one end pivotally mounted within said housing andhaving a generally depending finger mounted to said rod, said fingerbeing engageable with any of said ratchet members;

e. means associated with each of said ratchet members selectivelyengageable with said depending finger; and

f. means for releasably grasping the line of said fishing pole,

mounted to the other end of said rod member.

2. The apparatus claimed in claim I wherein at least one ratchet memberis shaped and provided with means for imparting an intermittent jigglingmotion to said rod.

3. The apparatus claimed in claim I wherein said rod member is pivotallyand slidably mounted within said housing so as to provide means forselectively engaging said finger with dilTerent ratchet members.

1. An apparatus, adapted to jiggle the line of a fishing pole comprisinGa. a housing; b. motor means mounted within said housing; c. a ratchetwheel: i. associated with said motor means and rotatable about asubstantially horizontal axis by said motor means; and ii. comprising aplurality of ratchet members secured to each other in a back-to-backrelation with each ratchet member differently configured to impart adifferent jiggling motion to said rod member and thus said fishing line;d. a rod member having one end pivotally mounted within said housing andhaving a generally depending finger mounted to said rod, said fingerbeing engageable with any of said ratchet members; e. means associatedwith each of said ratchet members selectively engageable with saiddepending finger; and f. means for releasably grasping the line of saidfishing pole, mounted to the other end of said rod member.
 2. Theapparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one ratchet member isshaped and provided with means for imparting an intermittent jigglingmotion to said rod.
 3. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said rodmember is pivotally and slidably mounted within said housing so as toprovide means for selectively engaging said finger with differentratchet members.